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CA1081291A - Modular recoil mechanism - Google Patents

Modular recoil mechanism

Info

Publication number
CA1081291A
CA1081291A CA303,688A CA303688A CA1081291A CA 1081291 A CA1081291 A CA 1081291A CA 303688 A CA303688 A CA 303688A CA 1081291 A CA1081291 A CA 1081291A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
shaft portion
shaft
collar
fluid chamber
contact
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA303,688A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Robert L. Isaia
Robert L. Shelby
Francis D. Bell
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Caterpillar Inc
Original Assignee
Caterpillar Tractor Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Caterpillar Tractor Co filed Critical Caterpillar Tractor Co
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1081291A publication Critical patent/CA1081291A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62DMOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
    • B62D55/00Endless track vehicles
    • B62D55/08Endless track units; Parts thereof
    • B62D55/30Track-tensioning means

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Devices For Conveying Motion By Means Of Endless Flexible Members (AREA)
  • Combined Devices Of Dampers And Springs (AREA)

Abstract

MODULAR RECOIL MECHANISM
Abstract of the Disclosure A vehicle recoil mechanism includes a two-part shafts a collar being slidable on one part of the shaft and in operative engagement with a recoil spring, the other part of the shaft being associated with a fluid chamber, so that upon wear on the shaft by movement of the collar relative thereto, only the one part of the shaft need be replaced, without interfering with the fluid chamber.

Description

~ckc~round of t}~e Invention , This invention relates to recoil mechanisms, and more particularly, to a recoil mechanism which incorporates shaft means having a collar slidable thereon and in operative association with a recoil spring. , In a known type of recoil and track -tensioning apparatus, a one-piece shaft has a collar slidably mounted -thereon, the collar being in operative ass'ociation with a -:
recoil spring. The shaft is also in operative association ~
with a fluid chamber into which substantially incompressible ~ ' ' fluid may be introduced, so that the mechanism provides ~, ~
the function of tensioning a track of a vehicle with which ;~ ~ , it is associated. In general, over a period of time, the movement of the collar relative to the shaft under recoil operation of the apparatus provides a certain degree of wear on the shaft. In,general, in order to gain complete access to the shaft to replace it, certain sealing relations in the area of the shaft and chamber must be broken, and then ~eestablished during reassembly of the apparatus.
Summary of the Invention The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.
According to the invention, there is provided in a recoil mechanism comprising a shaft having a movable collar slidably mounted thereon in operative contact with a recoil spring, and fluid chamber defining means operatively associated with ~ - 2 --i ' ,. ~ .

... . . .

1LZ~7~

the sl~a~t, tlle improvement comprising the shaft having first and second shaft portions in generally end-t~-end, normally abutting contact, the first shaft portion having the collar mounted thereon, the second shaft portion being operatively associated with the fluid chamber defining means, the shaft including means for disengaging the first shaft por-tion readily and directly axially from the second shaft portion with the second shaft portion remaining in operative association with the fluid chamber defining means and wherein the fluid chamber defining means comprise seal means in operative contact with the second shaft portion, which seal means remains in contact with said second shaft portion as said first shaft portion is directly axially removed from the second shaft portion and wherein said disengaging means .
includes an elongated bore defined by said second shaft portion and a protrusion defined by said first shaft : : :
portion which free-fittingly, nonsecuringly, and axially -fits into the bore of the second shaft portion with the first and second shaft portions in abutting contact.
Brief Description of the Drawin~s Other features of an embodiment of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specifications and drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a sectional elevation of a track-tension-ing and recoil apparatus; and FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line :
II-II of FIG. 1.
- 2a -Description of the Prefexred Embodiment ~:
Shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is the track-tensioning and recoil mechanism 10 for operative association with the wheels of a vehicle. The mechanism 10 includes an -5 outer generally tubular member 12 secured to the pivot shaft ~
1~ of a vehicle, and an inner generally tubular member ~ . -16 slidably disposed therewithin by means of sleeve bearings 18, the inner tubular member 16 being operatively associated with the front idler of a vehicle (not shown).
The inner tubular member 16 is internally threaded, and an externally threaded member 20 is in threaded engagement with the tubular member 16, and is retained therein by a safety ring 22 bolted to the tubular member 16. The externally threaded member 20 is in contact with a collar 2~ which is slidably disposed on shaft means 26.
The shaft means 26 are in contact with an extension 28 .
secured to an end plate 30 in turn secured to the tubular member 16. A helical recoil spring 32 is , disposed about the extension 28 and is in contact with 20 the end plate 30 and the collar 2~. .
The shaft means 26, it will be seen, is made up of two shaft portions 3~, 36, which are in generally end-to-end, - 3 - ~ :

,. ~. . .

normally abutting contact. The shaft portion 34 is the portion which has the collar 24 movably mounted thereon. The shaft portion 34 is solid, while the shaft portion 36 is hollow, de-fining an elongate bore 38 therein. The shaft portion 3LI
defines a protrusion 40 which seats into the bore 38 of the shaft portion 36, with the shaft portion 34 defining a radial flange 42 which is in contact with the annular end surface 44 of the shaft portion 36. The shaft portions 34, 36 are readily removable from each other, with the shaft means 26 in a ~ree state, since thy are not secured to each other, but rather the protrusion 40 is a ~ree fit into the bore 38.
It will be seen that the shaft portions 3LI, 36 de~ine shaft means 26 of generally cylindrical overall configuration, with the overall cylindrical surface 46 of the shaft means being substantially smooth in configuration, with the shaft portions 34, 36 in abutting contact.
An annular seal 48 is reatined on the shaft portion 36 by means of a spring clip 50. A sleeve 52 is disposed about 20 the sha~t means 26, and is in sealing relation with the shaft portion 36 by means of seals 54. The sleeve 52 is in abutting contact with the collar 24. A frame means in the form of a guide tube member 56 is disposed about the slee~e 52, and is in sealing relation with the sleeve 52 by means of seals 58, the annular seal 48 also being in sealing engagement with the inner sur~ace of the guide tube member 56. The outer surface of the guide tube member 56 is in sealing relation with the exter-nally threaded member 20 by means of seal 60. The guide tube member 56 is maintained in a proper position by a lug 62 -welded to an abutment plate o~ the tubular member 12, and a mating recess 66 formed in an extended portion of the guide ~8 1Z~g~

tube member 56 to accept the lug 62. .

It will be seen thatthe gulde tube member 56, shaft protion 36, and annular seal 48 together define a chamber 68.
Pressurized, substantially incompressible ~luid may be introduced into the chamber 68 through a fitting 70~ and pres-sure may be relieved therefrom by means of a fitting 72.
Access is provided to the fittings 70, 72 by removal of an ~ :~
access plate 74. ;
Upon introduction o~ such fluid into the chamber 68, the fluid acts on the shaft portion 36 and on the surface 69 of the guide tube member 56 to move the tubular members 12, 16 to tension a track of a vehicle.
The tubular member 16 is substantially filled with oil, passages 71 being provided on the externally threaded member 20 to allow flow therethrough, so that oil generally surrounds the shaft portion 34 in the area of t.he collar 24.

, Upon leftward movement of the tubular member 16 relative to -~
the tubular member 12, the shaft portion 36, moving with the tubular member 16, moves into the chamber 68, so that the 20 substantially incompressible fluid in the chamber 68 acts on the annular seal 48, which in turn acts on the sleeve 52, to urge the collar 24 rightwardly along the shaft portion 34.
The collar 24 is moved away from contact with the externally threaded member 20, and in this way, the spring 32 is compressed between the collar 34 and the end plate 30.
Extension of the spring 32 of course moves the parts in the opposite manner.
It will therefore be seen that the collar 24 slides along the shaft portion 34, and over a relatively long 30 period of time, wear will occur on the shaft portion 34. The oil generally surrounding the shaft portion 34 aids in " ~8~9~L

reducing wear on that shaft portion 34. When it is desired that access be gained to the shaft means 26 so as to provide replacement thereo~ to compensate for the wear o~ the shaft portion 34, the tubular portion 12 is initially removed from the tubular portion 16. Next, the guide tube member 56, shaft portion 36, sleeve and seals 48, 54, 58 operatively associated therewi~h are removed as a unit. Thus, it will be seen that the sealing means operatively associating these parts is not interfered with. Access is then easily provided to the shaft por~ion 34, which can be replaced as appropriate. In the meantime, i-~ should be realized that the externally threaded member 20 remains in place within the tubular portion 16, in contact with the collar 24, so that the spring 32 is maintained in a sa~e, compressed state. Thus, the above operation can take place without any danger to the workmen undertaking such repair.
Upon removal and replacement of the shaft portion 34~, ~
the unit including guide tube member 56, sleeve 52, and shaft ~ -portion 36, and seals 48, 54, 58 associated therewith, may be 20 replaced. The tubular member 12 is then installed on the tubular member 16.
As shown in FIG. 2, pressure in the fluid chamber 68 will act in the bores 80, 82 acting on the fittings 70, 72 which are urged in a rightward direction. The fittings 70, 72 are retained in such position relative to the tubular member 12 .: .
by the lug 62 and the recess 66 described above. It should be ~
noted that the access plate 74 is in a position such that the ~ ;
fittings 70, 72 are not urged toward such access plate 74 by ;
fluid pressure in the chamber 68, but rather are urged in a direction removed therefrom, toward a sidewall of the tubular member 12. Thus, if a fitting under pressure is removed by -: - 6 -~)8~291 the operator, such pressure will not act to drive the fitting through the access opening 84, but rather such ~itting will be driven against the sidewall of the tubular member 12, avoiding possible inJury to the workman.

.

Claims (5)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. In a recoil mechanism comprising a shaft having a movable collar slidably mounted thereon in operative contact with a recoil spring, and fluid chamber defining means operatively associated with the shaft, the improvement com-prising the shaft having first and second shaft portions in generally end-to-end, normally abutting contact, the first shaft portion having the collar mounted thereon, the second shaft portion being operatively associated with the fluid chamber defining means, the shaft including means for disengaging the first shaft portion readily and directly axially from the second shaft portion with the second shaft portion remaining in operative association with the fluid chamber defining means and wherein the fluid chamber defining means comprise seal means in operative contact with the second shaft portion, which seal means remains in contact with said second shaft portion as said first shaft portion is directly axially removed from the second shaft portion and wherein said dis-engaging means includes an elongated bore defined by said second shaft portion and a protrusion defined by said first shaft portion which free-fittingly, nonsecuringly, and axially fits into the bore of the second shaft portion with the first and second shaft portions in abutting con-tact.
2. The mechanism of claim 1 and further comprising oil generally surrounding the first shaft portion in the area of the collar and wherein the oil is positioned between the collar and the first shaft portion to reduce the wear of the first shaft portion as the collar slides thereon.
3. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the first shaft portion is solid.
4. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the outer surfaces of the first and second shaft portions define a generally cylindrical overall configuration, with the overall cylindrical configuration of the shaft being substantially smooth, with the first and second shaft portions in abutting contact.
5. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said fluid chamber defining means further defines a sleeve disposed about said second shaft portion and in operative contact with said seal means and said collar, a guide tube member being disposed about said sleeve and in operative contact with said seal means, which seal means remains in operative contact with said second shaft portion and said guide tube member as said first shaft portion is directly axially removed from the second shaft portion.
CA303,688A 1977-07-07 1978-05-18 Modular recoil mechanism Expired CA1081291A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US81371977A 1977-07-07 1977-07-07

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1081291A true CA1081291A (en) 1980-07-08

Family

ID=25213178

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA303,688A Expired CA1081291A (en) 1977-07-07 1978-05-18 Modular recoil mechanism

Country Status (6)

Country Link
JP (1) JPS5418539A (en)
CA (1) CA1081291A (en)
FR (1) FR2396686A1 (en)
GB (1) GB1599508A (en)
MY (1) MY8500025A (en)
SG (1) SG51583G (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4283093A (en) * 1978-10-23 1981-08-11 Caterpillar Tractor Co. Track adjuster and guard
US4887872A (en) * 1989-01-17 1989-12-19 Caterpillar Inc. Track adjuster flow control mechanism

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1190344B (en) * 1962-07-28 1965-04-01 Kloeckner Humboldt Deutz Ag Tensioning device for the tracks of vehicles
DE1808528C3 (en) * 1968-11-13 1974-01-24 O & K Orenstein & Koppel Ag, 1000 Berlin Hydraulic chain tensioning device for caterpillar vehicles
US3765730A (en) * 1970-07-31 1973-10-16 Komatsu Mfg Co Ltd Device for automatically adjusting track shoe assembly in crawler tractor
US3920286A (en) * 1975-01-30 1975-11-18 Caterpillar Tractor Co Idler recoil and track adjuster spring retention arrangement, and method of assembly and disassembly thereof

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
SG51583G (en) 1984-04-19
MY8500025A (en) 1985-12-31
FR2396686B1 (en) 1983-12-02
GB1599508A (en) 1981-10-07
JPS5418539A (en) 1979-02-10
FR2396686A1 (en) 1979-02-02

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